TANKER OPERATORS WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED-ASOKWA MCE VOWS
The Asokwa Municipal Chief Executive, Chief Akwannuasah Gyimah says the assembly would henceforth monitor the activities and operations of tanker drives in the municipality, especially those operating at Kaase, a suburb of Asokwa.
Speaking to the media after visiting the site where a tanker loaded with 1800 liters of petrol got burnt last Friday, Chief Akwannuasah said the incident was serious to allow the same to reoccur.
He noted that in the briefings he had gotten it is becoming clear that some tanker drivers siphon fuel and sell to unscrupulous persons who operate at the Kaase enclave.
The MCE said but for the timely response and intervention from both the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and fire officers from the Bulk Oil and Storage Transport (BOST), the entire community of Kaase would have been in flames because the tanker got burnt in an area close to the electric pylons of the Volta River Authority (VRA).
“I have called on all stakeholders in the supply chain of fuel in Asokwa including BOST, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the Tanker Drivers Association to a meeting so that collectively we could discuss how their activities would be done in a safer manner so that incidents such as what happened last Friday could be avoided”, Chief Akwannuasah disclosed.
SAFETY MANAGER:
Corroborating what the MCE had said, Cornelius Senyoh Attah, Safety Manager at BOST indicated that but for the timely intervention of firemen who arrived on time, the whole Kaase where the BOST has its tanks and plants would have been affected.
He revealed that when the blast was heard from the burning tanker, he quickly released the tenders at BOST to serve as backup to that of the GNFS.
Mr. Attah said surprisingly no one in the community where the fire occurred was willing to give information as to how the fire started.
He, however, assured the Asokwa MCE who was accompanied by the Police Commander from Asokwa that BOST would assist in the ongoing investigations.
The Safety Manager also promised to attend the upcoming stakeholders meeting as announced by the MCE so that together they could get to the bottom of the issues.
POLICE COMMANDER:
Speaking to the media, Chief Superintendent Christopher Owusu Mpianim, Asokwa District Commander said his outfit was investigating the matter.
He noted that the driver of the tanker was arrested on Friday night but had been given bail to report to the station every day till investigations are completed.
The Commander said the tanker owner had been invited and his statement taken as well as that of the driver.
BACKGROUND:
Last Friday, a fuel tanker with the number AS 2531-19 caught fire at a make-shift human settlement near the Bulk Oil And Storage Transport at Kaase.
The driver was reported to have been discharging fuel into some tricycles when the blast occurred.
The tanker which had 1800 liters as at the time before the blast was burnt beyond recognition.
Fire tenders and officers from the Ghana Fire Service and BOST managed to douse the flames within 30minutes when they got to the scene.
STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.
